Friday, February 13, 2009

Back to Pops

Some will argue that he invented Jazz. Or Swing. None will argue that he is probably the most important American musical personality ever.

Transcribing Louis Armstrong is an excellent exercise and reveals a couple of things: - Simple, clean lines, close to the melody - Lines are often repeated, but the swing feel changes - The arrangements are ... pre-Duke?

So here's Struttin' With Some Barbecue. Me playing my digital keyboard (trumpet voice) on top of Satchmo :). Can't say that wasn't fun. What else? Even my wife likes this type of music.